A man who police say had been exposing himself to children Sunday at a
shopping plaza in south Cobb County was shot to death after police arrived and the suspect got into a scuffle with officers.

The shooting occurred at 7:23 p.m. in the parking lot of a Target store at the intersection of
the East-West Connector and Austell Road near WellStar Cobb Hospital, said
Cobb police spokesman Brody Staud.

A mother of one of the man's alleged victims called police. When the officers arrived, the suspect refused to talk to them, walked to his truck in the parking lot and got in, Staud said.

The man, whose identity was not released, attempted to drive away with the officer hanging on the truck, and collided with the officer's car. The officer, who also was not identified, was dragged about 50 feet, Staud said, and only let go when he saw the man reaching for a gun in the truck. The officer got his own gun out and fired one shot at the suspect. Both the officer and the injured suspect were taken to WellStar Cobb Hospital, where the suspect died.

The officer's injuries were not life-threatening, amounting to bruises
and scrapes, Staud said. But he said the officer was shaken emotionally by
the confrontation. The officer has been placed on routine administrative
leave while the incident is under investigation.